Dirt guard for track type tractors



Feb. 26, 1935. M T P 1,992,702

' DIRT GUARD FOR TRACK TYPE TRACTORS Filed April 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1935. T, KOQP DIRT GUARD FOR TRACK TYPE TRACTORS Filed April 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRT GUARD FOR TRACK TYPE TRACTORS Marion T. Koop, Omaha, Nebr.

Application April 16, 1934, Serial No. 720,875

2 Claims. (01. 305-9) This invention relates to a dirt guard for track type tractors, and the like.

At present track type tractors, are equipped with steel dirt guards to prevent dirt and debris from getting onto the inside surface of the track. Owing to the necessary rigid character of such guards, however, they fail of their purpose and in passing over rough ground become dented on the bumps, and leave open spaces over the depressions through which the dirt may enter. On the other hand, a completely flexible dirt guard is impracticable owing to the difficulty of keeping it properly braced and in position.

In accordance with the present invention, the

customary steel guard may be employed, except that the lower portion thereof, say an inch or two, is replaced by a flexible strap.

It is found that not only does the flexible strap prevent the entry of dirt, but does it to such a degree that very great savings in maintenance cost are obtained.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a tractor equipped with the modified dirt guard; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the guard; Fig. 3 is a section along line 3--3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower portion of the guard shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a broken side elevation showing a modified form of guard;

Fig. 6 is a section through lines 66 in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detailed and enlarged section of the lower portion of the guard shown in Fig. 6.

The invention is shown applied to a track type tractor which is provided with tracks 2 operating Us on sprocket wheels and rollers 3. The truck on which the tracks are movably mounted is provided with dirt guards 4 which comprises a metal base 5 and a flexible strap 6. The straps bear against the upper surface of the grouser plates 49 7 which make up the track.

It is'preferred to use a slightly flexible metallic base for the strap, and in this case the metal may be bent slightly (say about 14) as shown at 8 in Figs. 3 and 4. In this manner the strap obtains the advantage of the slight flexibility of the metal, and in addition the angle tends to prevent the strap from becoming jammed or deformed by sudden blows.

50 The strap is preferably made of fabric such as rubber of the type normally used for heavy rubber belting. In general a strap about 2 wide by thick is preferred. With such a strap the base of the dirt guard is cut off about one inch from the inside of the track.

p as permissible, in View of the prior art.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the base of the guard is bolted to the channel members 9 of the truck by means of the bolts 10 which are provided with offset washers 11. The strap may be fastened to the base by bolts 12. Angle irons 5 13 may be provided to protect the strap.

' In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 a modified form of base is shown. This form is bolted to the lower surface of the I-beams by bolts 10 In this form the angle at 14 will help to some extent in taking up 10 jars. The lower portion of the base may be inclined if desired. The strap is bolted to the lower portion of the base as before. In this form the strap 6 is shown as protected by a washer 15 from the screw 12. 15

The foregoing description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should'be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character set forth: a truck frame equipped with rollers; an endless track of grouser plates movably mounted on said 25 rollers; and guard-means housing the lower portion of said frame and rollers comprising supporting plates depending from said truck frame and terminating close to the top of the grouser plates in the lower stretch of said track, said supporting 30 plates having their lower portion inclined from a plane perpendicular to the track to render them more resilient to vertical impact, and a strip of heavy flexible fabric removably secured to the lower marginal edge portion of each of said plates 5:, and bearing against the upper side of the lower portion of said track. i

i 2. In a machine of the character set forth: a truck frame equipped with rollers and a driving wheel; an endless track of grouser plates disposed 1 around said rollers and driving wheel; and guardmeans for the lower portion of said truck comprisingsupporting plates secured to the central portion of said truck and extending down close to the upper side of the tread-plates in the lower stretch of said track, said supporting plates having their lower portion inclined from the vertical plane so as to be more resilient to vertical impact, and a strip of heavy flexible fabric detachably secured to the lower marginal edge portion of each of said plates by means of an angular binding strip inclosing the top edge and upper marginal portion of said strip and bolted to the plate.

MARION T. IKOOP. 

